2026 FIFA World Cup

[remline]

The tournament runs from June 11 through July 19.

For me, one of the most exciting aspects about the 2026 tournament is that Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City is hosting matches. The first KC match is tomorrow, June 16: Argentina vs Algeria.

[Greg S]

The tournament runs from June 11 through July 19.

For me, one of the most exciting aspects about the 2026 tournament is that Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City is hosting matches. The first KC match is tomorrow, June 16: Argentina vs Algeria.

Looked like a fun time in KC last night. Argentina's fans were rallying at the Plaza and Algeria's set up at Union Station. Both teams HQ's for the run of the tournament are in KC (along with the Netherlands and England).

I should say Algeria's is in Lawrence and their practices are at Rock Chalk park. Lawrence has completely adopted Algeria too. Pretty cool following it on twitter.

Looking forward to the game tonight.

[remline]

Looked like a fun time in KC last night. Argentina's fans were rallying at the Plaza and Algeria's set up at Union Station.

Wow, that sounds like an awesome time to check out the Plaza.

Lionel Messi put on a great show Arrowhead, netting three goals on the night and tying the record for most career World Cup goals.

[remline]

The United States has won Group D, so they will advance to the knockout stage. This also means that the US will not be playing in Kansas City during the knockout stage. Their first knockout match will be in Santa Clara, California.

Kansas City hosts knockout stage matches on July 3 and July 11.

[OmahaRedWing]

Kansas City has had a really fortunate World Cup. They had Argentina vs Algeria in the first game with both teams bringing a lot of fans, especially Argentina. Yesterday they had the Netherlands playing and it was a crazy few days leading up to the game with all of their fans down there. That parade they had in the streets going from Power and Light to the Fanfest location by the WW1 Museum was nuts. Even the TV people covering it said the city had never experienced anything like it. The videos of it are really really cool.

They've had 3 WC games already with 3 more to go. They also have 4 teams in the metro using KC as their HQ. England, Argentina, and the Netherlands in KC, with Algeria in nearby Lawrence.

[remline]

Kansas City has had a really fortunate World Cup.

KC got another fantastic match last night. Austria and Algeria drew 3–3, with stoppage time heroics from both sides. Admission to the knockout round was on the line for both Austria and Algeria.

[nativeomahan]

I just read a piece online about where the city officials and business people in KC are over the moon ecstatic about the tens of thousands of foreign tourists who have deplaned at KCI for these matches, and posted glowing accounts of their time in KC. Needless to say a big part of their excitement focuses on the food they have been consuming.

[Greg S]

I just read a piece online about where the city officials and business people in KC are over the moon ecstatic about the tens of thousands of foreign tourists who have deplaned at KCI for these matches, and posted glowing accounts of their time in KC. Needless to say a big part of their excitement focuses on the food they have been consuming.

Yeah I have been following it on twitter and youtube. It's been awesome. Had a friend that just got back from going to the Netherlands game and parade. Said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Obviously their tourist areas a packed but he said there are travelers from all over the world everywhere you go in KC.

[remline]

Alas, the Netherlands were eliminated from the tournament in a painful fashion last night. Those penalty misses are gut wrenching; I think they demonstrate the mental aspect of the game in a fascinating way.

[almighty_tuna]

Alas, the Netherlands were eliminated from the tournament in a painful fashion last night. Those penalty misses are gut wrenching; I think they demonstrate the mental aspect of the game in a fascinating way.

That game overall was a battle. It was clear that Morocco was more focused on winning though - they really kept the pressure on throughout. One of the wilder PK sequences I've seen in a long time for sure.

[Louie]

US moves on to the round of 16

[nativeomahan]

Europe comes out on top over Latin America today, as Brazil loses to Norway and Mexico comes up short against favored England.

[Flyer14]

One of the best matches in the tournament last night. Mexico seemed to be in control for 88 of the 90 minutes, but that’s all England needed!

[Greg S]

Crazy that England played essentially the entire 2nd half short handed and still won.

[djc311]

Of course I would have liked to have seen the US win tonight. At the same time, when the clown show president pulls his own red card to get one dropped, I feel they kinda got what was coming to them.

Why can’t that moron keeps his hands out of things?

[thenewguy]

Of course I would have liked to have seen the US win tonight. At the same time, when the clown show president pulls his own red card to get one dropped, I feel they kinda got what was coming to them.

Why can’t that moron keeps his hands out of things?

I didn't think it was very cool that he did that. I don't think government should ever interfere in things of that nature; it'd be akin to him calling Roger Goodell and telling him to lift a suspension on a football player for a penalty because it was his favorite team. Government has no business messing with things that don't really matter (in the grand scheme of things). I understand it's a huge event and what not, but in the end, it is just a sporting event. Then again, I don't feel like government needs to involve themselves in a lot of things they do, but that's just me.

[djc311]

Of course I would have liked to have seen the US win tonight. At the same time, when the clown show president pulls his own red card to get one dropped, I feel they kinda got what was coming to them.

Why can’t that moron keeps his hands out of things?

I didn't think it was very cool that he did that. I don't think government should ever interfere in things of that nature; it'd be akin to him calling Roger Goodell and telling him to lift a suspension on a football player for a penalty because it was his favorite team. Government has no business messing with things that don't really matter (in the grand scheme of things). I understand it's a huge event and what not, but in the end, it is just a sporting event. Then again, I don't feel like government needs to involve themselves in a lot of things they do, but that's just me.

100% agree - regardless of sport or leader. They have no business getting involved. It’s no surprise why virtually every other country on the globe despises the US at the moment.

[Greg S]

Some great games yesterday. Argentina with an amazing comeback against Egypt. Followed by the extra time, then shootout between Switzerland and Columbia.

[OmahaRedWing]

The US had definitely been a hit with the foreign fans as a host site. Way better than I think many expected.

[nebugeater]

The US had definitely been a hit with the foreign fans as a host site. Way better than I think many expected.

Or at a minimum what the media expected

[nativeomahan]

The US had definitely been a hit with the foreign fans as a host site. Way better than I think many expected.

The posted social media fan reviews of their host cities in Mexico are equally over the moon positive.

[remline]

The finals are almost set. Spain defeated France in dominant fashion, and will face the winner of today's Argentina vs England match.

One thing that continues to strike me as odd: penalty kicks are awarded for fouls inside the box. In the Spain-France match, Lamine was fouled at the right edge of the box. The reward was a penalty kick, which was made; it seems like the expected value of the penalty kick is way higher than anything Lamine could have done had the foul not occurred. In other words, the punishment seems much more severe than the crime.

Also: make the player who was fouled take the penalty kick! Otherwise, the goal count for the team's penalty kick-taker gets inflated.